US military presence near China documented

Beijing-based think tank releases report describing activities targeting country

The United States maintained an active military presence in the South China Sea and frequently carried out provocative activities near China throughout last year, according to a new report.

"In 2024, the US military intensified its military deterrence against China by maintaining high-intensity operations in the South China Sea and surrounding areas, including close-in reconnaissance, transits through the Taiwan Strait, forward deployment, strategic patrols, combat exercises and battlefield preparations. Specifically, it conducted approximately 1,000 sorties of close-in aerial reconnaissance using large aircraft, while ocean surveillance and survey ships logged 706 ship-days of operations — a significant increase compared to 2023," according to the report, which was released on Monday by the Beijing-based think tank South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative and focused on US military activities in the South China Sea in 2024.

The report says that the US Navy deployed its carrier strike groups to the South China Sea eight times last year. The deployments were apparently meant to promote the US military's presence in the region.